“Where do you start? First of all, it was a good win and we are 1-0 in the ACC. We have a bunch of guys who are battling and want to compete for 60 minutes. What we have to do is get them better at the little things, like the fundamentals and the techniques, and not putting ourselves in positions that made it difficult to win. However, I am very proud of our guys for battling and hanging in there. We have a lot of things we still need to clean up, but I will take the win and know that the things we need to fix are things we can take care of and things the players want to take care of.“

“I would also like to make a special mention of Paul Velano being inducted into the Hall of Fame here at Maryland. He was an honorary captain this evening, and it is great to see former players coming back here and we welcome them back with open arms. I also thought the crowd was good. The crowd gave us some energy. Defensively, we played very well, except for a few plays. Offensively, we are very inconsistent and on the special teams we have things there we need to clean up also.”

On the play of the defense and the secondary:

“I thought that, other than the blown coverage early on, we started to do a really good job. I think that those guys prepare well. I was very proud of Anthony Nixon. Matt Robinson hurt his groin, and so we needed to move Eric [Franklin] over and have Anthony step up because we have been so impressed with what we have seen out of Anthony. In practice he takes great notes and he is very conscientious. I thought the secondary did play well. I thought we could have held on to some of those tipped balls for interceptions, but I thought overall our defense was outstanding.”

On the play of Perry Hills:

“Perry has to get more consistent. I love Perry to death, but he is missing some things out there. He could make it a lot easier on himself and be a lot more efficient offensively if he goes where he is supposed to with the ball and make some better reads. We just need to work with him and make sure he works to get better. As we continue to go forward, we need to eliminate some of those things.”

On the play of Stefon Diggs:

“I think one of the things Stefon has to understand now that he is here is that he cannot make a big play all of the time. He has the ability to make the big plays, but sometimes he hurts himself more than he helps himself. He gets so excited to play, we have to calm him down and tell him what he needs to do. With his punt returns, the thing he needs to understand is that the most important thing is getting the ball back and securing the football so we can get a chance to go and possess it on offense and do something with it.”

On the first Wake Forest touchdown and the defensive breakdown:

“There was a missed execution of a coverage that led to that touchdown. We would never play a coverage that would leave a guy that wide open. We had a breakdown.”

On senior leadership on defense, especially with the two late sacks:

“I think Demetrius [Hartsfield] is playing pretty well. He is a guy who is playing with a lot of confidence. He is vocal, he hates to lose, and I like how he talks and gets everybody going. With Kenny [Tate], you only want to play him so many plays, but when he is out there, there is a steadiness and fluidness. I just hope that tomorrow he won’t be sore. It got to a point in the game where I told the defensive coach to just leave him in there and just keep him going. When you have a guy out there with the intelligence that he has and just understands the game it helps you as a defense.”

On offensive identity and prospect of trying a different quarterback:

“We had talked about maybe getting Devin [Burns] in there before the game, but the situation never presented itself. I would have hoped that we would be a little further along offensively, but that is just something that we will continue to work on.”

On extra point versus going for two, and what he thought about the clock management:

“I thought that we should kick the field goal because our defense was playing really well. I guess I thought kicking the field goal was a safer option than going for two. The four minute drill was something we have worked on and I thought we executed that very well. We got as much out of the clock as we could and put ourselves in a good situation. We put Kevin Dorsey back there to get an interception and he dropped it. We were trying to get him on the stat sheet.

The thing that is so frustrating is that when you see these guys go out there and execute well, and then you see them go out there again and do some things that make you scratch your head and say ‘Where did that come from?’. That is our job as coaches to get that focus and consistency. We need to get to where we need to be as a team.”

QUOTES – MARYLAND PLAYERS

Maryland 19, Wake Forest 14

Senior Defensive Lineman A.J. Francis

On stopping Wake Forest’s offense:

“Our goal is to be the best defense in the ACC, and we have to come to work every day in practice and especially Saturdays. We still have a lot to improve on. We gave up a big touchdown on the first drive, and we should have also kept them out of the end zone on their second touchdown. Other than that we played a pretty good game, and we still have room to improve. I think we have the potential to be a really great defense.”

“On being 1-0 in ACC play:

“It is always huge to win conference games because they are the games that really matter. At the end of the day we really focus on winning conference games because it will help us get to postseason play. It is really good that we got one out of the way. We were able to pull it out, and it was a great win for our team.”

Senior Defensive End Joe Vellano:

On goal line stand:

“Everyone was really working hard on not letting their offense get in the end zone. On third down they went for it, and we were able to stop them. They went for it again on the fourth, and I think it was Dexter [McDougle] over the top who made a huge play. That really was a big momentum changer for our team.”

On being 1-0 in ACC play:

“It’s a huge win for us. Our biggest goal this week was to come out and win this game to get tonight and we were successful with that. We have Virginia next week, but this was a great start to open up our ACC competition.”

On your father’s induction to the Maryland Hall of Fame”

“It was a crazy thing being able to see my dad’s old highlights. It made me come alive during the game. Last night was a great event, and I was really touched by the support I received from the rest of the Maryland players. I never thought I would be able to be on the field with my dad, especially walking out to the coin toss with him. It was a dream come true. I am very humbled and proud of all that my dad was able to achieve.”

Freshman Quarterback Perry Hills

On how he’s progressed this season:

“I’m definitely starting to see the blitzes a lot easier; where they’re coming from, helping myself get picked up. It’s definitely slowed down a lot instead of everything happening in a split second, you start to see it a lot easier.”

On the touchdown pass to Dorsey:

“We knew the corners were going to bite on a little hitch route. So I took a three step [drop] and then just gave him a nice easy catchable ball in the end zone.”

On how Maryland’s defense played:

“The defense won the game for us. The defense played a great game. They’ve played well all year and I’m glad to have a defense as good as they are.”

Freshman Receiver Stefon Diggs

On the 63-yard receiving play:

“I had a little underneath route, caught the ball, and did my job. Everybody else had some great blocks on the outside. I ran out of gas a little bit, but I pretty much just did my job and did the best I could.”

On the muffed punt:

“I had time, but I peeked. I took my eyes off of it, and I saw that I had at least one second. There was a little bit of wind, but there’s no excuse at all; I should have squared it up. It drifted a little bit and got away from me, so I was more concerned about the ball than the hit. It happened, I tried to move forward from it. It got down on myself a little bit because that’s how I play. I love the game and I believe stuff like that shouldn’t happen. It wasn’t the worst game of my life, but we have to move on to next week at Virginia.”

On how big the win was:

“It’s good to open up the ACC with a ‘W’, so it’s a big win. We pride ourselves on not beating ourselves, but we made a lot of mistakes. If you make a lot of mistakes you can’t expect to win games; there’s a small margin of error. We’re going to hear about it tomorrow, but it’s good to get a ‘W’ battling adversity. It’s big and it builds team camaraderie and chemistry.”

Senior Linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield

On Wake Forest’s final drive in the game:

“I definitely knew what they were running. It wasn’t anything new; we just did what we had to do.”

On the play of the secondary:

“I think all of our DBs played great. I think Anthony Nixon stepped up as a freshman, and I think Jeremiah Johnson played a heck of a game. They had a handful of PBUs”

On how it feels to be 1-0 in the ACC:

“It’s good to be 1-0, but of course it’s just one win. Now we have to get ready for Virginia. I’ve yet to win down there.”

On how they were able to counter Wake Forest’s offense:

“We knew they were going to try to run the ball, and base their offense off of the run. That was the big emphasis we had, stopping the run.”

Postgame Notes

Maryland 19, Wake Forest 14

Kicking Off: Maryland (3-2, 1-0 ACC) won its conference opener for the fifth straight year by defeating Wake Forest (3-3, 1-3 ACC) 19-14 … the last time the Terps didn’t win their conference opener was 2007, a 31-24 overtime loss at Wake … Maryland leads the all-time series with the Demon Deacons 43-17-1, including a 22-8 advantage at home … the Terps have won three straight over Wake at home and 10 of the last 14 overall in the series … Maryland’s .717 winning percentage over Wake is its best mark against any ACC school.

Defense Steps Up: Maryland’s defense held strong after surrendering a 73-yard touchdown pass on the third offensive play of the game. The Terps allowed just 241 total offensive yards, the fourth time in five games they’ve held the opponent under 300. The secondary, which had 11 pass breakups, helped hold Wake Forest quarterback Tanner Price to a .342 completion percentage. Maryland came into the game 18th nationally in passing defense (177.8 ypg) and surrendered 170 to Wake. The Terps also held the opponent under 100 yards rushing for the third time this year as Wake finished with 71 rushing yards.

100-yard Game for Diggs: Freshman receiver Stefon Diggs had his second straight 100-yard receiving game by hauling in a season-high five passes for 105 yards. Diggs’ 63-yard reception in the fourth quarter was the longest by a Terp this year and set up the game-winning touchdown by Justus Pickett. Diggs also had 113 receiving yards against West Virginia two weeks ago.

Defensive Notes: Demetrius Hartsfield recorded double digit tackles (10) for the second time this season (also 13 vs. William & Mary) … Hartsfield’s sack on 4th-and-15 late in the fourth quarter sealed the victory … Darin Drakeford and Kenneth Tate also recorded sacks … Jeremiah Johnson had four pass breakups and now leads the team with six this year.

Big Leg: Brad Craddock connected on two long field goals for Maryland of 49 and 52 yards. He is the first Terp to hit a 50-yarder since Travis Baltz had a 52-yarder on 11/27/10 and the first Terp to hit two field goals of at least 45 yards since Baltz had a pair of 47-yarders on 9/11/10.

Dorsey in the Scoring Column: Wide receiver Kevin Dorsey recorded his first touchdown reception of the season when he caught a 33-yard pass from Perry Hills with 2:19 left in the second quarter.

Goal-Line Stop: Maryland came up with a big goal-line stop in the second quarter. Wake Forest had third-and-goal at the 1-yard line, but was unable to score. WF quarterback Tanner Price fumbled on third down and Bradley Johnson came up with a tackle at the line of scrimmage on fourth down.

Nixon Starts: With Matt Robinson out of the game due to a groin injury, true freshman Anthony Nixon drew the start at safety opposite of Eric Franklin. Nixon is the fifth true freshman to start on offense or defense for Maryland this year (Stefon Diggs, Albert Reid, Perry Hills, Sean Davis). Additionally, Brad Craddock has served as the starting place-kicker every game.

Hall of Fame: Eight new members were inducted into Maryland’s Athletics Hall of Fame of this weekend, including football alum Paul Vellano. Vellano, a first team All-American in 1973, is the father of current Terp Joe Vellano, a second team All-American last year. The father-son combo represent one of four known father-son All-America combos to attend the same FBS school (also Lee and Travis McGriff at Florida; Kevin and Drew Butler at Georgia; Archie and Eli Manning at Ole Miss).

Tidbits: Maryland won the time of possession battle, holding the ball for 35:48 compared to 24:12 for Wake Forest … Diggs finished with 132 all-purpose yards (105 receiving, 20 punt return, 7 rushing) … there were seven fumbles in the game (four by Maryland, three by WF), with each team recovering two.

COLLEGE PARK, MD. – Maryland opens Atlantic Coast Conference play on Saturday when Wake Forest, which has already played three league games (1-2 record), visits Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. The Terps are coming off their bye week and are expected to be mostly healthy after battling injuries throughout the season’s first four games. Those injuries have played a part in Maryland seeing 12 true freshmen take to the field, which ranks as the ninth most in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

First-and-10

• With a number of experienced playmakers, the defense has been the most consistent unit for Maryland. The Terps rank eighth nationally in total defense (261.25 ypg), 11th in rushing defense (83.5 ypg) and 18th in passing defense (177.75 ypg). Maryland has been very tough against the run with an experienced front seven highlighted by senior defensive linemen Joe Vellano and A.J. Francis, and senior linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield. Those three have played a big role in holding opponents to an average of just 2.3 yards per rush, which ranks ninth nationally. Maryland held a high-powered West Virginia offense that came in averaging 226 rushing yards per game to just 25 yards on 25 attempts. It’s also been a disruptive defense – Maryland’s 2.5 sacks per game are tied for 39th in the FBS and its 7.5 tackles for loss per game are tied for 22nd. The Terps received a major boost to their linebacking corps with the return of Kenneth Tate in the West Virginia game. Tate, a 2010 consensus first team All-ACC choice, had missed the previous 11 games dating back to the 2011 season due to a knee injury. The fifth-year senior recorded four tackles, one of them for a loss, and a pass breakup against the Mountaineers.

• Of the young players, wide receiver Stefon Diggs and quarterback Perry Hills have made the biggest impact in the first one-third of the regular season. Diggs has been a multi-faceted play-maker in the return game and as a receiver – he ranks second in the ACC and 16th nationally in all-purpose yards (160.5 ypg) and has a team-high 64.8 receiving yards per game which ranks ninth in the conference. Against then-No. 8 West Virginia two weeks ago, Diggs tallied 201 all-purpose yards including a team-high 113 receiving yards on three receptions. He had touchdown catches of 42 and 56 yards and was honored as the ACC Rookie of the Week. That came two weeks after Hills earned the same honor for his play in a 36-27 win at Temple.

• Hills, who is just the third true freshman quarterback to start for Maryland in school history (Randall Jones in 1998; Latrez Harrison in 1999), had his best collegiate game against the Mountaineers. He finished 20 of 29 for 305 yards and three touchdowns, all season highs. Despite his youth, Hills has capably directed the offense and has been at his best in the fourth quarter. He led Maryland on the game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter of the season opener against William & Mary, and on the season is 15 of 23 for 270 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the final stanza.

• The Maryland running game has been a work in progress as four capable backs have all seen time this season. SophomoreJustus Pickett is the most experienced and started against Temple and Connecticut. True freshman Albert Reid started against William & Mary, and redshirt freshman Brandon Ross started against West Virginia after missing the first three games with a hamstring injury. Additionally, true freshman Wes Brown has a team-high 127 rushing yards and is averaging a team-best 5.5 yards per carry. Those four are listed as co-starters heading into the Wake Forest game.

• Maryland’s special teams units have also been relying on young players. Diggs has been handling the return game, true freshman Brad Craddock has been handling kickoffs and place-kicking duties with Nick Ferrara’s injury, and redshirt freshmanNathan Renfro has handled the punting.

Quick Hitters• A Terrapin has received Rookie of the Week honors twice in a three-week span as quarterback Perry Hills earned the award for his play against Temple and Stefon Diggs received it for the West Virginia game. Hills became the first Maryland true freshman QB to earn the award since Calvin McCall on 9/20/99, while Diggs became the first Maryland freshman receiver to earn it since Darrius Heyward-Bey on 10/30/06.

• Seven players made their first career starts in the season opener against William & Mary: quarterback Perry Hills, running back Albert Reid, safety Sean Davis, defensive back Jeremiah Johnson, linebacker Cole Farrand, nose tackle Darius Kilgoand offensive lineman Nick Klemm. Additionally, wide receiver Stefon Diggs made his first career start against Connecticut, while defensive back Isaac Goins and running back Brandon Ross made their starting debuts at West Virginia.

• Fourteen players saw their first career action for Maryland against William & Mary, and 22 players have seen their first career action for Maryland at some point this season (12 true freshmen, seven redshirt freshmen, two juniors, one senior).

• Diggs, who has 12 catches for 259 yards, is averaging 21.6 yards per catch. That ranks second among ACC receivers with 10 or more catches and ranks fourth among the top-100 receivers nationally.

• After recording just three catches for 33 yards in the first three games, tight end Matt Furstenburg found his form against West Virginia. The preseason All-ACC selection had four catches for 65 yards against the Mountaineers.

• Maryland’s defense allowed just 682 total yards to opponents through its first three games (William & Mary – 229, Temple – 230, Connecticut – 223). That marks its best defensive performance in a three-game span since 2004, when it held The Citadel (137), West Virginia (156) and Eastern Michigan (275) to a total of 568.

• West Virginia came into its game with Maryland averaging 612 yards of total offense and 55.5 points per game. The Terps held the Mountaineers well below those averages, surrendering 363 yards and 31 points, seven of which came on a fumble return for a TD by the WVU defense.

• The Terps have done a good job controlling the clock. In four games, Maryland has had the ball for an average of 30:41 to 29:19 for the opponent. That’s a major upgrade compared to 2011, when Maryland averaged just 25:16 a game to 34:44 for the opponent.

• The Terps are holding opponents to 2.3 yards per carry, which ranks fifth nationally. Of the opponents’ 145 rushing attempts this season, 101 (69.7%) have been for three yards or less (28 of 41 vs. William & Mary; 28 of 39 vs. Temple; 25 of 40 vs. Connecticut; 20 of 25 vs. West Virginia).

• Demetrius Hartsfield leads the team with 33 tackles and has had a hand in three turnovers, also a team high (one interception, two fumble recoveries).

• Head coach Randy Edsall hands out game balls for each win. In the win over William & Mary, Marcus Leak got the game ball for offense, Joe Vellano for defense and Nathan Renfro for special teams. In the win over Temple, Sal Conaboy got the game ball for offense, Demetrius Hartsfield for defense and A.J. Francis for special teams.

• Against William & Mary, Perry Hills became the first true freshman starter at quarterback for Maryland since Latrez Harrison in 1999. He also became the first freshman to start a season opener since redshirt freshman Calvin McCall on Sept. 2, 1999, in a 6-0 win over Temple.

• Maryland had 15 seniors on the 2011 roster, but just 12 of those players were listed on the two-deep at some point during the year. There are 17 seniors listed on the 2012 roster, and 13 are on the two-deep.

• Three Terps ended 2011 ranked among the top 12 in the ACC in tackles. Demetrius Hartsfield was second at 12.0 per game and Eric Franklin was sixth at 8.8. Joe Vellano was 12th with 7.8 per contest.

• Maryland owns a 42-17-1 advantage all-time against Wake Forest. The Terps’ .712 winning percentage against the Demon Deacons is the Terrapins’ best mark against any ACC school.

• In games played in College Park, Maryland holds a 21-8 advantage. The Terps have won the last two meetings at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium (26-0 in 2008, 62-14 in 2010), and five of the past six. Wake Forest’s lone win in College Park in the past 13 years came in 2006.

• The Terps have won nine of the last 13 in the series. They won seven straight from 1999-2005. The Demon Deacons, though, have won four of the past six.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — This one probably wouldn’t have been quite as bad had Maryland never seen the ball again.

If the Connecticut Huskies (2-1) had simply managed to run out the remaining 4:39 on the clock after Perry Hills pulled the Maryland Terrapins (2-1) within 24-21 thanks to a 10 yard TD run, this one might not have been quite as stinging.

Unfortunately for Terps head coach Randy Edsall Saturday, his first meeting with his former school did end with that same 24-21 score, but it didn’t end that way.

Instead UConn gave Maryland the ball right back with plenty of time (3:29 left), two timeouts and good field position (the Maryland 42) needing only a field goal to force overtime.

What happened in those final moments will cause greater consternation for Edsall than even a blowout loss may have.

Instead of marching down to tie things up-or perhaps finish off a victory which would allow Maryland to surpass their win total of a season ago and start thinking about the possibility of bowl eligibility, the Terrapins absolutely imploded.

It started out well enough. Freshman quarterback Perry Hills (who struggled to final numbers of 11-25, 122 yards, 1TD and 1INT) pushed the Terps just outside the edge of field goal range thanks to a 12 yard completion to WR Kerry Boykins. That was followed by a six yard run by freshman RB Wes Brown, leaving the Terps on UConn’s 37 yard line with roughly three minutes to play.

From the 37 yard line with 3:00 to play, the Terps would ultimately end up running 2:35 off the clock running six plays that would gain a total of -3 yards and end with a turnover on downs.

There was one positive mixed in (an 11 yard catch and run from Hills to WR Stefon Diggs good for a first down), but otherwise there were sacks, quarterback scrambles, WR drops and a bizarre 3rd and long call that resulted in a four yard loss after a completed pass.

There were no timeouts called until the Terps stared down the barrel of 4th and 18 with 25 seconds to play. The timeout allowed Maryland to set up a Hail Mary pass that went through the back of the endzone.

Edsall was asked about his decision to not use a timeout after the game.

“I didn’t think about taking a timeout there” the coach said. “That’s something that we haven’t been good at even in practice…that two minute situation. Sometimes guys just try to do too much. That’s where we as coaches just have to continually teach.”

He’s right to point out that Boykins exacerbated their troubles by dropping a ball along the sideline that would have left them with third and manageable instead of 3rd and long, but it doesn’t absolve Edsall (or Offensive Coordinator Mike Locksley) of fault for the final drive.

COLLEGE PARK, MD. – After a momentum-building win at Temple last weekend, the Maryland football team returns home to face Connecticut in Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. It will be the first time head coach Randy Edsall coaches against his former school (the Terps will make a return trip to Connecticut in 2013) and just the second time in history the football programs have met, with the only other meeting coming in 1942, a 34-0 Maryland win.

First-and-10

• The youthful Terps showed improvement from week one to week two in dispatching of Temple 36-27. Maryland played 12 true freshmen in the season opener, the most for a Maryland team in at least 15 years, and seven players made their first career starts in the season opener. Quarterback Perry Hills received ACC Rookie of the Week honors for his play against the Owls.

• Defense has set the tone for a young but talented Maryland team in the first two games of the season. The Terps have been very tough against the run with an experienced front seven highlighted by senior defensive linemen Joe Vellano and A.J. Francis, and senior linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield. Those three have played a big role in holding opponents to an average of just 1.95 yards per rush, which ranks 10th nationally. It’s also been a disruptive defense – Maryland’s seven sacks tie for 13th in the FBS and its 17 tackles for loss are tied for 20th. Overall, the Terps are allowing just 229.5 yards per game, which ranks ninth nationally.

• Maryland has also had a knack for forcing timely turnovers in the first two games. In the closing moments of the 7-6 win over William & Mary in week one, cornerback Jeremiah Johnson forced a fumble on a sack that Hartsfield recovered to seal the game. In week two vs. Temple, the defense forced fumbles on the Owls’ first two possessions of the game and Hartsfield again helped seal the win by intercepting a tipped pass with 2:05 remaining to preserve the 36-27 victory.

• The biggest area of improvement for the Terps from week one to week two came with the offense, which is being directed by Hills, a true freshman. Hills, who became the first freshman to start a season opener for Maryland since Calvin McCall in 1999, had an excellent outing against Temple. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native went 11 of 21 for 190 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a touchdown. He also made several momentum-changing plays on third down: he ran for an 11-yard TD on third-and-goal after fumbling the snap; he hit Marcus Leak for a 39-yard gain on third-and-17 in the third quarter; and finally, hooked up with Stefon Diggs down the sideline for 38 yards on a third-and-11 with under 4:00 left and Maryland clinging to a 29-27 lead. Hills was named ACC Rookie of the Week for his play against the Owls.

• Diggs has been Maryland’s most electric player with his contributions on offense and in the return game. The true freshman leads the team with 218 all-purpose yards, with 135 of those coming against Temple last week. He’s done it in a variety of ways, totaling 89 yards on receptions, 84 on punt returns, 25 on kickoff returns and 20 on rushes. Additionally, his 12.82 yards per touch ranks sixth in the nation among freshmen who are averaging at least 108 all-purpose yards per game.

• Justus Pickett has worked his way into the feature role at running back. After scoring what proved to be the game-winning touchdown in week one against William & Mary, Pickett saw his role increase in week two. He carried the ball a career-high 21 times for 69 yards against Temple and seemed to get stronger as the game went on. In the fourth quarter alone, Pickett rushed seven times for 36 yards, including a bulldozing seven-yard touchdown run with 2:51 remaining that put the game out of reach. Beyond Pickett, the Terps have plenty of depth in freshmen Wes Brown and Albert Reid. Redshirt freshman Brandon Ross, who had been named the starter in the preseason, missed the first two games with an injury.

Quick Hitters• Maryland allowed William & Mary to gain just 229 yards of total offense and held Temple to 230 yards. That marks its best defensive performance in a two-game span since holding Villanova to 187 yards and FIU to 163 yards in the first two games of the 2007 season.

• Maryland won its first two games despite committing more turnovers than its opponent in each contest. All eight of the Terrapins turnovers (three interceptions, five fumbles) have come from freshmen.

• The Terps have done a good job controlling the clock. In two games, Maryland has had the ball for an average of 31:23 to 28:38 for the opponent. That’s a major upgrade compared to 2011, when Maryland averaged just 25:16 a game to 34:44 for the opponent.

• In addition to the seven first-time starters, 14 players saw their first action against William & Mary. And of the 44 players that saw time against the Tribe, 25 of them were underclassmen.

• Maryland has 14 true freshmen listed on its two-deep (excluding return men), which is the third most in the FBS (Colorado – 16, Texas – 15).

• The Terps are holding opponents to 1.95 yards per carry, which ranks 10th nationally. Of the opponents 80 rushing attempts this season, 56 have been for three yards or less (28 of 41 vs. William & Mary; 28 of 39 vs. Temple).

• Demetrius Hartsfield recorded a double-digit tackle game against William & Mary by finishing with 13. Hartsfield had seven double-digit efforts in nine games last season. Hartsfield also had a fumble recovery with 1:11 left that sealed the win.

• Head coach Randy Edsall handed out game balls for the win over Temple. Sal Conaboy got the game ball for offense,Demetrius Hartsfield for defense and A.J. Francis for special teams.

• Maryland was hit hard by injuries in the preseason. Thirteen players missed the season opener due to various injuries and ailments, and 14 were out against Temple. Seven of those were potential starters on offense and defense: defensive linemanAndre Monroe; defensive backs A.J. Hendy and Matt Robinson; linebacker Kenneth Tate; quarterback C.J. Brown; running back Brandon Ross; offensive lineman Josh Cary. Place-kicker Nick Ferrara also missed the first two games. Both Monroe and Brown are out for the season.

• Perry Hills became the first true freshman starter at quarterback for Maryland since Latrez Harrison in 1999. He also became the first freshman to start a season opener since redshirt freshman Calvin McCall on Sept. 2, 1999, in a 6-0 win over Temple.

• Maryland had 15 seniors on the 2011 roster, but just 12 of those players were listed on the two-deep at some point during the year. There are 17 seniors listed on the 2012 roster.

• Eleven of the top 13 tacklers from 2011 are back this season, including Hartsfield, who had a team-high 108 stops, and safety Eric Franklin, who was second with 106.

• Three Terps ended 2011 ranked among the top 12 in the ACC in tackles. Hartsfield was second at 12.0 per game and Franklin was sixth at 8.8. Vellano was 12th with 7.8 per contest.

• There are just two returning starters (Bennett Fulper and Justin Gilbert) on Maryland’s offensive line, but six players entered the season with starting experience. De’Onte Arnett, Josh Cary, Sal Conaboy and Peter White have also started on the o-line.

Wake Forest’s Price, Campanaro, and Hazime headline honorees for performance against North Carolina

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Wake Forest quarterback Tanner Price, receiver Michael Campanaro, and defensive end Hasan Hazime headline a list of eight players named as the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the Week, announced by the conference on Tuesday. Price threw for a career-high 327 yards, Campanaro caught a career-high 13 passes for 164 yards, and Hazime had five tackles in the Demon Deacons’ 28-27 win over North Carolina.

Freshman quarterback Perry Hills led the Terrapins to a 36-27 win at Temple and was recognized as the Rookie of the Week.

Two Virginia Cavaliers were recognized for their performance in the 17-16 victory over Penn State. Steve Greer tallied a career-high 15 tackles to be named the Linebacker of the Week, and senior Oday Aboushi, who had 12 knockdown blocks, was named the Offensive Lineman of the Week.

Clemson’s Spencer Benton connected on a 61-yard field goal to set a new ACC record and was named the Specialist of the Week. NC State’s Earl Wolff, the Defensive Back of the Week, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble to help the Wolfpack win at Connecticut.

Price completed 27 of 38 passes for 327 yards in Wake Forest’s 28-27 win over North Carolina on Sept. 8. Price also carried seven times for 5 yards and rushed for a pair of touchdowns. Price’s 327 yards represented a career-high in passing yards and the two rushing touchdowns were also a career-best. Trailing 27-21 with 6:36 to play in the game, Price led Wake Forest on an 11-play, 93-yard drive for the game-winning touchdown. On the drive, Price completed five of seven passes for 67 yards and carried three times for 5 yards including the game-winning 1-yard TD plunge.

Campanaro caught a career-high 13 passes for a career-high 164 yards in Wake Forest’s 28-27 win over North Carolina on Saturday. Campanaro had nine catches for 108 yards in the first half as Wake Forest built a 21-14 halftime lead. He had four catches for 56 yards in the second half, including one 15-yard reception on the game-winning drive. Campanaro’s 13 receptions were two shy of the school record and the most ever by a Deacon versus the Tar Heels.

Hazime had five tackles including three solos and two assists versus North Carolina. A fifth-year transfer from Akron, Hazime made his first career start for Wake Forest on Saturday, filling in for an injured DE Zach Thompson. Hazime had a sack of North Carolina QB Bryn Renner, forcing a fumble which he then recovered, settingup Wake Forest’s go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter. Hazime also broke up a team-high two pass attempts by the Tar Heels.

LINEBACKER – Steve Greer, Virginia, Sr., LB, 6-2, 230, Solon, Ohio

Greer had the best game of his career in Virginia’s 17-16 victory against Penn State. Greer registered a career-high 15 tackles and tied his career high with two sacks. He finished the game with 2.5 tackles for loss. Greer was part of a Cavalier defense that rose up and kept the Nittany Lions out of the end zone and forced them to attempt field goals, which they converted just 1 of 5. The Virginia defense held Penn State to just -14 total yards and 3 total points following four Cavalier turnovers during the game. Three of those turnovers came inside the Virginia 25-yard line and the fourth was at the 38-yard line. Penn State managed just 2.9 yards per play during the game.

DEFENSIVE BACK – Earl Wolff, NC State, Sr.,S, 6-0, 207, Raeford, N.C.

Wolff tallied seven stops (including five first hits or solos) in the 10-7 road win over UConn, even though he played just three quarters after leaving with an injury. He picked off the fifth pass of his career in the second half with UConn driving when Wolff caught the interception at midfield and returned it 16 yards. The senior made perhaps the biggest play of the game on defense in the third quarter when he recovered a fumble that Brandan Bishop forced with NC State leading 3-0. That gave the Pack the ball at the UConn 41 and three plays later, State scored its only touchdown of the afternoon.

Benton kicked an ACC record 61-yard field goal in Clemson’s 52-27 victory over Ball State. The 61-yard field goal broke the previous Clemson record by four yards and broke the previous ACC record by a yard. It was just the fourth field goal of 60 yards or more at the FBS level this century (The fifth was kicked later in the afternoon by Andrew Furney of Washington State against Eastern Washington, a 60-yarder). In addition to his record setting field goal, Benton kicked off five times with four resulting in touchbacks. He also had a 43-yard average on two punts, both of which pinned Ball State inside its own 20. He also held on Clemson place kicks, except for his 61-yard attempt.

ROOKIE – Perry Hills, Maryland, Fr., QB, 6-3, 205, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Hills, who last week became the first freshman to start a season opener for Maryland since Calvin McCall in 1999, had an excellent outing in the 36-27 win against Temple. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native went 11 of 21 for 190 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for a touchdown. He also made several momentum-changing plays on third down: he ran for an 11-yard TD on third-and-goal after a low snap that hit the ground; he hit Marcus Leak for a 39-yard gain on third-and-17 in the third quarter; and finally, hooked up with Stefon Diggs down the sideline for 38 yards on a third-and-11 with under 4:00 left and Maryland clinging to a 29-27 lead. In all, Hills led Maryland on six scoring drives (four touchdowns, two field goals) in its 36-27 win over Temple.

Kicking Off: Maryland held on to beat Temple 36-27 to improve to 2-0 on the season … quarterback Perry Hills went 11 of 21 for 190 yards, two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown … running back Justus Pickett ran for 69 yards and a touchdown, and Stefon Diggs had 135 all-purpose yards on nine touches … the defense forced two early turnovers and was once again tough against the run, holding Temple to 52 yards on 39 carries.

Forced Turnovers Set Tone: Maryland’s defense set the tone right away by forcing a fumble on Temple’s first offensive play of the game. Joe Vellano forced the fumble by running back Matt Brown, and Demetrius Hartsfield recovered it. Then, on Temple’s second drive, Cole Farrand forced a fumble on third down that A.J. Francis recovered.

Defense Locks Down: The Terps held Temple to just 34 total yards and two first downs in the first half. Temple had just 28 rushing yards on 22 carries (1.3 ypc) and six passing yards as Maryland won the time of possession battle 16:21 to 13:39. The second half was more of the same as the Owls had just 24 rushing yards on 17 carries. For the game, Temple had just 52 rushing yards on 39 carries (1.3 ypc).

Leak Steps Up: Sophomore receiver Marcus Leak had three receptions for 90 yards, and two of them were big plays. Leak had a 32-yard TD reception to give Maryland a 17-3 lead in the second quarter; he also had a big momentum play in the third quarter. On a third-and-17, Leak caught a jump ball from Hills for a 39-yard reception, and Maryland went on to kick a field goal on the drive. The catch came right after Temple scored a TD as a result of a Maryland turnover right after halftime.

Showing Improvement on Offense: Maryland showed improvement on offense in week two of the season. The Terps’ 12 first downs in the first half nearly matched their total of 13 in game one against William & Mary. Maryland finished with 334 yards of total offense and 19 first downs.

Diggs’ Drive: Maryland’s first touchdown drive came in large part due to the efforts of Stefon Diggs. The freshman set up the drive with a 27-yard punt return that gave Maryland the ball at the their own 43. He then had a 12-yard rush and a 12-yard reception before Perry Hills hit Matt Furstenburg in the end zone on a beautiful pass for a 22-yard touchdown.

More Diggs: Despite a fumble on a punt in the fourth quarter, Diggs had a solid all-around game. He had nine touches for 135 yards, an average of 15 yards per touch (3 receptions for 59 yards, 2 rushes for 17 yards, 3 punt returns for 34 yards, 1 kickoff return for 25 yards). Diggs also had a 38-yard catch on third down with under 4:00 left in the game that setup a touchdown and helped preserve the win.

Safety: Maryland got its first safety in exactly five years when Temple’s center snapped it over the head of QB Chris Coyer and into the end zone in the second quarter. The Terps’ last safety came against FIU on Sept. 8, 2007.

Turnovers: The Terps were able to hold on to win despite losing the turnover battle for the second straight week. Maryland had four fumbles lost, while Temple lost two fumbles and threw an interception.

Tidbits: Brad Craddock’s 45-yard field goal in the first quarter was the first of his career … Perry Hills’ 22-yard TD pass to Matt Furstenburg early in the second quarter was the first of his career … Maryland’s 23 points in second quarter its most in one quarter since they had 28 on 10/30/10 vs. Wake Forest … when Temple QB Chris Coyer hit C.J. Hammond for a 62-yard touchdown in the third quarter, it represented the first points Maryland’s defense allowed this season that didn’t come off turnovers … with 73 all-purpose yards Justus Pickett surpassed 1,000 career all-purpose yards … the Terps finished with three sacks and seven tackles for loss … Cole Farrand had a game-high six tackles … A.J. Francis had a blocked field goal, sack and fumble recovery.

COLLEGE PARK, MD. – The University of Maryland football team takes to the road for the first time of the 2012 season when it faces Temple at Lincoln Financial Field Saturday at noon. The Terrapins will look to build upon a 7-6 season-opening win over William & Mary in which 14 players made their Maryland debut, including 12 true freshmen. The defense kept the team in the game, allowing Justus Pickett to run for the game-winning score in the fourth quarter.

First-and-10

• A dominant defensive effort by the Terps enabled the win in week one. Linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield made 13 tackles and helped seal the game with a fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter. Defensive lineman Joe Vellano had 11 stops – two of them for loss – and an interception. In all, the defense recorded 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and held William & Mary to just 2.5 yards per carry (41 attempts, 104 yards). Hartsfield, the ACC’s active career leader in tackles, and Vellano, a 2011 second team All-American, highlight the 10 starters returning to the Maryland defense this season.

• The offense was set to return five starters, including three of its top four receivers from last season in wideouts Kevin Dorsey and Kerry Boykins, and tight end Matt Furstenburg. Junior C.J. Brown, who started five games in 2011 and set the Maryland single-season rushing yards record by a quarterback, was set to assume No. 1 quarterback duties before suffering a torn ACL in a non-contact drill on Aug. 14. Injuries hit both sides of the ball hard during the preseason, as 10 potential starters missed the William & Mary game with various injuries and ailments (see note page 2)..

• Still, Maryland hopes a number of key returnees, combined with a highly touted 2012 recruiting class, will help it reach postseason play for the ninth time in the last 12 years. In addition to Vellano and Hartsfield several playmakers are back on defense. In the secondary, Eric Franklin and Dexter McDougle have plenty of experience, having both started every game last year. Franklin, a senior who has played in 28 career games, led the team in solo tackles (64), ranked second in total tackles (106) and tied for second on the team with four pass breakups. McDougle, meanwhile, led the team with six pass breakups and tied for the team lead with three interceptions. The Terps also welcome back linebackers Darin Drakeford and Alex Twineand defensive lineman A.J. Francis, all of whom have starting experience. Drakeford is a disruptive force, tying for the league lead last season with four forced fumbles. As a true freshman last year, Twine ended the season as the starter at Will linebacker and averaged 9.8 tackles in his four starts. Francis has played in each of the last 38 games and has 24 career starts.

• Quarterback Perry Hills, who against William & Mary became Maryland’s first true freshman starter since Latrez Harrison in 1999, will direct the offense. Hills overcame a slow start against the Tribe by leading the Terps on a 10-play, 69-yard TD drive in the fourth quarter that proved to be the game winner. Maryland has a young, talented group of skill players around Hills. Pickett, a sophomore, is the veteran in the backfield and is joined by three freshmen in Brandon Ross, Albert Reid and Wes Brown. At receiver, sophomore Marcus Leak and freshman Stefon Diggs each had three receptions in the season opener.

• Diggs is also the kickoff and punt returner, and averaged 16.6 yards on three punt returns against William & Mary. Nathan Renfro secured the punting duties and performed well, averaging 53.0 yards on four punts with a long of 60. His best punt came late in the fourth quarter with Maryland holding on to a one-point lead. Renfro had his 57-yard punt downed at the 2-yard line with 2:17 remaining to help seal the win. With senior Nick Ferrara out of the season opener, freshman Brad Craddock handled the kickoff and place-kicking duties.

• In addition to the seven first-time starters, 14 players saw their first action against William & Mary. And of the 44 players that saw time against the Tribe, 25 of them were underclassmen.

• Maryland has 14 true freshmen listed on its two-deep (excluding return men), which is the third most in the FBS (Colorado – 16, Texas – 15).

• Maryland allowed William & Mary to gain just 229 yards of total offense. That’s its best total defensive performance since surrendering 115 to Wake Forest on Oct. 30, 2010.

• The Terps held William & Mary to 2.5 yards per carry. Additionally, 28 of the Tribe’s 41 rushes were for three yards or less, including 15 of 19 in the first half.

• Demetrius Hartsfield recorded a double-digit tackle game against William & Mary by finishing with 13. Hartsfield had seven double-digit efforts in nine games last season. Hartsfield also had a fumble recovery with 1:11 left that sealed the win.

• Head coach Randy Edsall handed out game balls for the win over William & Mary. Marcus Leak got the game ball for offense, Joe Vellano for defense and Nathan Renfro for special teams. Renfro also received honorable mention punter of the week from CollegeFootballPerformance.com.

• Maryland was hit hard by injuries in the preseason. Thirteen players missed the season opener due to various injuries and ailments: defensive linemen Keith Bowers, Isaiah Ross and Andre Monroe; defensive backs Isaac Goins, A.J. Hendy and Matt Robinson; linebackers Kenneth Tate and Abner Logan; quarterbacks C.J. Brown and Dustin Dailey, running back Brandon Ross; offensive lineman Josh Cary; and place-kicker Nick Ferrara. Both Monroe and Brown are out for the season.

• Perry Hills became the first true freshman starter at quarterback for Maryland since Latrez Harrison in 1999. He also became the first freshman to start a season opener since redshirt freshman Calvin McCall on Sept. 2, 1999, in a 6-0 win over Temple.

Maryland-Temple Series History

• Maryland leads the all-time series with Temple, 6-1. The series dates back to 1997; the schools played four years in a row from 1997-2000. Temple’s only win in the series came last year, when it beat the Terps 38-7 in College Park. Maryland is 3-0 when playing at Temple.
• The last meeting in Philadelphia was Oct. 8, 2005. Mario Merrills ran for three touchdowns and Sam Hollenbach passed for 228 yards in a 38-7 victory.

First-and-10…
• The University of Maryland football team kicks off the 2012 season against William & Mary Saturday at 3 p.m. inside Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. The Terrapins, under the direction of second-year head coach Randy Edsall, are opening football season No. 120. Saturday’s game will be streamed live on ESPN3, as well as being broadcast on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network.
• Maryland headed into preseason camp with 15 returning offensive and defensive starters from a year ago, including 10 on defense. Senior defensive lineman Joe Vellano, a 2011 second team All-American, and linebackers Demetrius Hartsfield and Darin Drakefordheadline the 10 starters back on defense. Vellano led the FBS last season in tackles by a defensive lineman (7.8 per game), Hartsfield was an honorable mention All-ACC pick and Drakeford had a league-high tying four forced fumbles.
• The offense was set to return five starters, including three of its top four receivers from last season in wideouts Kevin Dorsey and Kerry Boykins, and tight end Matt Furstenburg. Junior C.J. Brown, who started five games in 2011 and set the Maryland single-season rushing yards record by a quarterback, was set to assume No. 1 quarterback duties. Injuries, however, took their toll in August. On Aug. 14, Brown suffered a torn ACL in a non-contact drill and will be out for the season. Less than a week later, 2011 freshman All-America defensive lineman Andre Monroe suffered a season-ending knee injury. In all, Maryland will have a total of 10 potential starters out in week one vs. William & Mary (see note page 2).
• Still, Maryland hopes a number of key returnees, combined with a highly touted 2012 recruiting class, will help it reach postseason play for the ninth time in the last 12 years. In addition to Vellano, Hartsfield and Drakefield, several playmakers are back on defense. In the secondary, Eric Franklin and Dexter McDougle have plenty of experience, having both started every game last year. Franklin, a senior who has played in 28 career games, led the team in solo tackles (64), ranked second in total tackles (106) and tied for second on the team with four pass breakups. McDougle, meanwhile, led the team with six pass breakups and tied for the team lead with three interceptions. The Terps also welcome back linebacker Alex Twine and defensive lineman A.J. Francis, both of whom have starting experience. As a true freshman last year, Twine ended the season as the starter at Will linebacker and averaged 9.8 tackles in his four starts. Francis, who will play defensive end in coordinator Brian Stewart’s 3-4 scheme, has played in each of the last 37 games and has 23 career starts.
• The Terps will look to true freshman quarterback Perry Hills to direct the offense. Hills won the job in preseason camp after Brown’s injury and impressed his teammates and coaches with his poise and ability to manage the offense. Maryland will be under the direction of coordinator Mike Locksley, who has installed a pro-style offense with spread principles. That will be well-suited for Hills, who has the ability to make plays with his arm and his legs. Maryland will have a young, talented group of running backs that has impressed the coaching staff in the preseason. Redshirt freshman Brandon Ross enters week one as the starter, with sophomore Justus Pickett listed as his backup. Pickett is the lone running back on the roster with game experience.
• On special teams, Maryland will look to several young players. Freshman Stefon Diggs will be the kickoff and punt returner, freshman Brad Craddock will handle the place-kicking duties in week one, and Craddock or Nathan Renfro will handle the punts.

Quick Hitters…
• The five Maryland players who received 2011 postseason recognition return to the squad this year – DL Keith Bowers(freshman All-ACC), LB Lorne Goree (freshman All-ACC), LBDemetrius Hartsfield (honorable mention All-ACC), DL Andre Monroe (freshman All-American) and DL Joe Vellano (second team All-American; first team All-ACC).
• Maryland was hit hard by injuries in the preseason. The team’s first depth chart was absent of 10 potential starters, including seven on the defensive side of the ball, due to various injuries and ailments: defensive linemen Keith Bowers, Isaiah Ross andAndre Monroe; defensive backs Isaac Goins, A.J. Hendy andMatt Robinson; linebacker Kenneth Tate; quarterback C.J. Brownand offensive lineman Josh Cary; and place-kicker/punter Nick Ferrara.
• Perry Hills is expected to become the first true freshman starter at quarterback for Maryland since Latrez Harrison in 1999. He’ll also be the first freshman to start a season opener since redshirt freshman Calvin McCall on Sept. 2, 1999, in a 6-0 win over Temple.
• The Terrapins return 75 percent of the offensive and defensive two-deep from the end of last season. There are 17 of the 22 offensive players back and 16 of 22 defenders. In addition, eight of the 12 members of the final special teams two-deep is back in 2012.
• Maryland had 15 seniors on the 2011 roster, but just 12 of those players were listed on the two-deep at some point during the year. There are 17 seniors listed on the 2012 roster.
• Eleven of the top 13 tacklers from 2011 are back this season, including Hartsfield, who had a team-high 108 stops, and safety Eric Franklin, who was second with 106.
• Six of the top seven sack producers from 2011 are back this season, though leading sack producer Monroe, who had 5.0, is out for the season after suffering a knee injury in preseason camp. With Monroe’s absence, the top returning sack producer is L.A Goree, who had 3.5 last season.
• Three Terps ended 2011 ranked among the top 12 in the ACC in tackles. Hartsfield was second at 12.0 per game and Franklin was sixth at 8.8. Vellano was 12th with 7.8 per contest.
• There are just two returning starters (Bennett Fulper and Justin Gilbert) on Maryland’s offensive line, but six players have started in their careers. De’Onte Arnett, Josh Cary, Sal Conaboy and Peter White have also started on the o-line.
• Nine bowl teams from last year appear on Maryland’s 2012 schedule: Temple (Gildan New Mexico Bowl), West Virginia (Discover Orange Bowl), Wake Forest (Franklin American Mortgage Music City), Virginia (Chick-fil-A Bowl), NC State (Belk Bowl), Georgia Tech (Hyundai Sun Bowl), Clemson (Discover Orange Bowl), Florida State (Champs Sports Bowl) and UNC (AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl).

Byrd Gets a Facelift…
• Maryland in August finished the installation of a brand new FieldTurf Revolution surface at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. The privately funded $3 million project resulted in the “coolest” synthetic turf field in the nation and was completed in time for preseason camp. In order to enhance playability for all sports expected to use the facility, and after various tests and discussions, it was decided the playing surface would be a traditional green in color. The end zones for football will have a design reminiscent of the Maryland state flag and reinforcing the “Maryland Pride” theme of Maryland Athletics. The project at Maryland is the first of its kind in the United States and features exclusive new heat-reducing technology – CoolPlay – which, coupled with the patented silica sand and cryogenic rubber infill, will provide the facility with the “coolest” infill technology. FieldTurf has done extensive temperature testing which shows that CoolPlay infill provides for a difference of up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit versus traditional rubber infill systems. The many benefits of the new field include protecting the health of the student-athletes, improved playability in inclement weather, annual savings on field maintenance, a fantastic recruiting tool and tremendous revenue-generating opportunities through events such as concerts, high school games and other outside athletic events.

Openings at the Skill Positions…
With the loss of its top tailback and second-leading receiver, the Terps have openings at a couple of key skill positions.Davin Meggett ended his career seventh on the Maryland career rushing list and Quintin McCree was productive over the last half of his senior season, posting 31 of his 40 catches in the final six games. But seniors Kevin Dorsey and Kerry Boykins are expected to lead a young, but talented group of wide receivers. Dorsey led the team in receptions (45), receiving yards (573) and touchdown receptions (three) last year, while Boykins was third in both catches (37) and receiving yards (430). Sophomore Marcus Leak will look to build upon the experience of his freshman season in expanded roles this year. Leak, a speedy and physical player, saw extensive action in the first half of 2011. He ended up posting 12 catches for 85 yards as a true freshman. Sophomore Nigel King and redshirt freshman Tyrek Cheeseboroshould also be fighting for time. King is a another big, physical presence who joined the team in spring 2011, but was unable to practice with the Terps in the fall due to an NCAA eligibility issue. Cheeseboro was one of the team’s better special teams players last season before his true freshman campaign was cut short with a knee injury. Levern Jacobsjoined the program this semester after spending the fall at Milford Academy and figures to push for time. The addition of freshmen Stefon Diggs, Malcolm Culmer and Amba Etta-Tawo will add competitiveness to the position. Diggs has impressed in preseason camp and is listed second on the depth chart at the slot receiver behind Boykins. The Terps will be young at tailback, but look to have plenty of depth at the position. Justus Pickett saw considerable time last season as a true freshman. The shifty back ranked third on the team in both carries (74) and rushing yards (274). He also caught 10 passes out of the backfield. Brandon Ross, though, has earned the starting job for week one. The redshirt freshman will be backed up by Pickett, and freshmen Wes Brown and Albert Reid will also battle for time. Maryland also returns it’s No. 1 fullback in sophomore Tyler Cierski who is a bruiser at 255 pounds. He played in all 12 games in 2011, seeing time on special teams as well. Senior Jeff Hernandez and freshman Kenneth Goins will back up Cierski.

Stability at Tight End…
• Tight end is one of the most experienced positions on the team with all four players back this season. Senior Matt Furstenburg has started the last two years and has become one of the top tight ends in the ACC. A member of the 2011 John Mackey Award midseason watch list and the preseason watch list this fall, he ranked third in the conference among tight ends in both receptions (2.6 pg) and receiving yards (29.0 pg). He has a capable backup in Devonte Campbell, who had a pair of touchdown catches last season. The senior is a strong, athletic presence who should see plenty of action in the team’s two tight-end sets. Campbell has played in 17 games over the last two years. Senior Ryan Schlothauer served as the No. 3 tight end a year ago, seeing most of his time on special teams. The wild card at the position is Dave Stinebaugh who has been relegated to the sidelines most of the last two years due to knee and shoulder injuries. The junior is healthy now though and ready to contribute after a productive preseason.

Replacements on the O-line…
• The Terps will have to replace three starters on the offensive line, though six players who have started are returning.Bennett Fulper, Justin Gilbert, Pete White and Josh Cary have the most experienced among the returners, while De’Onte Arnett and Sal Conaboy have also started. Fulper, a two-time Academic All-ACC choice, has started the last two seasons at center, but has also played guard and is slotted at the left guard spot, with Conaboy taking over at center. Gilbert was the starting left tackle in 2010 before two knee injuries sidelined him until the second half of last season. He slides over to right tackle to start this season, and will be backed up by redshirt freshman Ryan Doyle. Arnett, a junior and a converted defensive lineman, earned the starting spot at right guard. He started the final game of 2011 at left guard and played in five games total. With Josh Cary injured, Arnett will be backed up by promising redshirt freshman Andrew Zeller. Klemm is penciled in at left tackle after playing in six games as a reserve right tackle last season. Highly-touted freshman Mike Madaras will back Klemm up.

Depth on the D-line…
• With all four starters back and the shift to a 3-4 defense, Maryland entered preseason camp with plenty of depth along the defensive line. The d-line was hit hardest by the injury bug in August, though, as Andre Monroe suffered a season-ending injury, and Isaiah Ross and Keith Bowers are both out for week one. Still, the Terps have talent and depth. All-American Joe Vellano will lead this group for the third straight season. Vellano, who led the FBS last season in tackles by a lineman (7.8 per game), will move from tackle to end in new coordinator Brian Stewart’s scheme. Vellano is a two-time All-ACC performer and a two-time team captain. Senior A.J. Francis is slated to be the other end, and sophomore Darius Kilgo is slated as the starter at nose tackle. A big, athletic presence, Francis has plenty of experience. He has played in each of the last 37 games, with 23 starts to his credit. Like Francis, Kilgo is a 300-pounder, though he does not have the same level of experience. He played in just five games last season as a reserve. Among the backups, only Justin Anderson, who is behind Francis at one of the ends, has experience. Anderson started all 13 games at anchor (hybrid defensive end position) in 2010 before being sidelined with an injury early last season and eventually serving a redshirt year. Defensive line coach Greg Gattuso says Anderson has the prototypical measurables to play end in Stewart’s scheme. True freshman Quinton Jefferson is listed as the backup to Vellano. Jefferson joined the program in the spring semester after signing in 2011 and sitting out the fall due to a medical issue. Sophomore Alex Walker will backup Kilgo at nose tackle.

Core of Linebackers Return…
• The Terps have a number of productive linebackers returning to the team this season, as well as an influx of four talented freshmen. Maryland is in possession of the leading returning tackler in the ACC and top forced-fumble producer in the league. Demetrius Hartsfield ranked second in the conference last season in tackles (12.0 per game), while Darin Drakeford tied for the ACC lead in forced fumbles (four) despite missing four games due to injury. Those two seniors will lead an experienced, but still young group. Hartsfield and Drakeford are penciled into the Mo (inside) and Will (outside) positions, respectively, in Brian Stewart’s defense. Alex Twine, Cole Farrand and L.A Goree all had significant reps last season as freshmen. Twine took over as the starter at Will at the end of last season. He averaged 9.8 tackles in his four starts and is penciled into the Sam (outside) spot. Farrand won the starting job over Goree at the Mike (inside). Goree was an honorable mention freshman All-America pick last season after averaging 5.0 tackles per game (fourth in the ACC among freshmen). Farrand saw most of his time on special teams. He has readied himself to play inside by bulking up to 245 pounds in the offseason. Marcus Whitfield took over as one of the starting defensive ends in the second half of last season. He has been moved to the Will position where he will back up Drakeford. Bradley Johnson will serve as the No. 2 Mo behind Hartsfield. The freshmen will have to work to crack the two-deep, but all four have solid pedigrees. Abner Logan is the most highly decorated of the four linebackers who joined the team in the preseason. Logan was a four-star selection by Rivals.com and 247Sports.com. All-state performers Brock Dean, Shawn Petty and Avery Thompson join Logan. With Kenny Tate’s injury, Thompson will serve as the backup at Sam.

Secondary Roles…
• The Terps lost a pair of cornerbacks with extensive starting experience, but return one starter at that position and will have three safeties with starting experience on the 2012 roster. Dexter McDougle started all 12 games last season at cornerback, leading the team with six pass breakups and tying for the team lead with three interceptions. The Terps will go with Jeremiah Johnson opposite McDougle. Johnson saw most of his time on special teams in 2011, but he did serve as the No. 4 cornerback for much of the season. Isaac Goins was added to the roster in December, joining the team from Contra Costa College where he was a 2011 first team All-Bay Valley Conference choice after posting six interceptions. Goins, though, is out for the opener with mono. Redshirt freshman Makinton Dorleant and true freshman Alvin Hill will provide depth at cornerback. Eric Franklin is penciled in at one safety position. He led the team in solo tackles (64), ranked second in total tackles (106) and tied for second on the team with four pass breakups. He ranked sixth in the ACC in tackles (8.8 pg). With Matt Robinson out for the opener, true freshman Sean Davis will start opposite of Franklin. Robinson was expected to be one of the key contributors on defense. When he had season-ending shoulder surgery he ranked second in the ACC and tied for seventh nationally in tackles per game (12.0).

Special Teams Makeover…
• Maryland will have a number of new faces on special teams this season. The lone returnee is Nick Ferrara, though he is listed as day-to-day and could be out for the William & Mary game. Ferrara, who handed all three phases of the kicking game last season, ranks in the top 10 in career made field goals at Maryland. Should he miss Saturday’s game, true freshman Brad Craddock, a native of Adelaide, Australia, will handle the place-kicking duties. Craddock and redshirt freshman Nathan Renfro are both listed atop the depth chart at punter, and junior Greg Parcher takes over long-snapping duties for four-year starter Tim Downs, who graduated. The Terps will look to true freshman Stefon Diggs in the return game. Diggs, a five-star prospect out of Good Counsel High School in Gaithersburg, Md., impressed in the team’s open scrimmage by returning a kick 98 yards for a touchdown and a punt 69 yards for a touchdown.

Maryland will begin normal game-week activities Sunday in preparation for the Sept. 1 season opener against William & Mary

COLLEGE PARK, Md. –Eight days away from its season opener against William & Mary, the Maryland football team prepared to break preseason camp after a morning workout Friday at the on-campus practice facility.

The Terps, who open the season Sept. 1 at 3 p.m. in Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium, were set to hold an evening practice before officially breaking from camp. They’ll start a normal game-like week on Sunday with an afternoon practice.

“Tonight we’ll have a scripted walkthrough, and tomorrow the players will be off,” said head coach Randy Edsall. “We’ll get into our normal routine for game week starting Sunday. We’ve got some stuff done on William & Mary the last two days now, and will tonight with our scripted walkthrough.”

Coach Edsall addressed the media following Friday morning’s session and touched on several items including the development of true freshman quarterback Perry Hills.

“I see a guy who’s out here continually getting better, and continually handling himself in the right way and learning the game plan and going out and executing. I’m excited to watch him and everybody get playing. There have been some exciting things that have happened here during training camp, and a lot of time when you do have that youth combined with the experience that we have with those seniors, that’s a good blend. Sometimes youth is a good thing because they don’t worry about anything.”

An underclassman that has impressed the coaching staff in preseason camp is sophomore defensive lineman Darius Kilgo. The Charlotte, N.C., native’s performance during camp has moved Kilgo to the top of the depth chart at nose tackle.

“We’ve been pleased with Darius,” said Edsall. “One of the reasons that we ended up moving A.J. [Francis] to end is because of the play of Darius. He’s really picked things up very well. Again, he’s one of those guys that is going to continuously get better with him playing. Because of what we’ve seen out of him, that facilitated the move of A.J. from nose to end.”

One position that is not as clear cut is running back with freshmen Wes Brown, Albert Reid and Brandon Ross, and sophomore Justus Pickett all competing for playing time.

“I think it’s very hard to get four guys playing time in there,” said Edsall. “I think you can probably see three in terms of going in. We’ve got some guys there that are nicked up a little bit right now that have to get out on the practice field if they’re going to play against William & Mary. We’ll see how that all unfolds, and we’ll have a better idea as we get closer.”

Tate to Miss Three to Four Weeks: Edsall said senior linebacker Kenneth Tate will miss the next three to four weeks with a left knee injury…Tate missed most of last season with a right knee injury, “He just has some cartilage issues there. It looks to be about a three-to-four week situation — that’s what the doctors have told me.

“The injury wasn’t because he got hit because he really hasn’t scrimmaged at all. It was his left knee; the one he hurt before was his right knee. This is now a similar situation, but in the left knee.”

Brown and Monroe Updates: Sophomore defensive lineman Andre Monroe underwent successful surgery on his knee Thursday…junior quarterback C.J. Brown was scheduled for surgery Friday morning…”Andre’s went well yesterday. C.J. went this morning. I’m sure he’s done by now. I haven’t heard anything. Andre’s surgery went well — he’s at home recovering. He’ll be back on Sunday, and I’ll get an update on C.J. a little later.”

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland football team moved closer to the end of preseason camp with a two-hour workout at the on-campus facility Tuesday afternoon.

The Terps will hold their final scrimmage of the preseason Wednesday afternoon, complete a short practice Thursday and then go through a two-a-day Friday before starting a normal game week.

Head coach Randy Edsall addressed the media following Tuesday’s workout and touched on a number of topics. Earlier Tuesday, Edsall named Perry Hills as the starting quarterback for the season opener against William & Mary on Sept. 1.

Hills, a true freshman, assumed first-team duties when junior C.J. Brown was injured last week. He will be backed up by another true freshman in Caleb Rowe, and sophomore Devin Burns will serve as the third-string signal-caller.

Edsall’s full comments are below.

On the team’s injuries:
“C.J. [Brown] is going to have surgery on Friday. So that’s going to happen Friday. Andre Monroe is going to be out for the year. He’ll have surgery on Thursday. Keith Bowers is probably out two to three weeks. [A.J.] Hendy will probably be three to four weeks with that ankle. Nick Ferrara is a day-to-day type situation. Kenny Tate is going to go visit with the doctors, he’s got an injury going right now. So he’ll see the doctors and we’ll know a little bit more on him. Of course you know Matt [Robinson] will be out for about two to three weeks more. Josh Cary [is out] about three weeks. Isaiah Ross, that’s an indefinite type thing, I’m not sure how long that’ll [be] – maybe more of a day-to-day type thing. And then Isaac Goins will be out three weeks with mono. So that’s kind of the update. Dustin Dailey is out with a high ankle sprain too.”

On what his thoughts are on the injuries:
“Just work the guys that are out there, that’s all we can do. Football is a game where you do have injuries and it’s something that you can’t control. It’s amazing because Andre Monroe was just running straight ahead, just running a sprint, and his knee kind of gave out and that was it. So a lot of the issues that we have haven’t even been contact-type situations.

“Even the ones that we might’ve had from a contact situation likeMatt Robinson, it wasn’t even violent or anything like that. But what it is, it’s just that hey, you want all those guys to get healthy as soon as they can but you just get the guys that are behind them ready to play. It’s that saying that we have, everybody is really one or two plays from playing and they have to make sure they’re mentally and physically prepared to step up and play at any time based on injuries.”

On how the injuries at defensive line shakes up the competition:
“If you went today you’ve got Joe [Vellano] at left end, you’ve got Darius [Kilgo] at the nose and then you’ve got A.J. [Francis] at the right end. Then you have Justin Anderson behind him and Alex Walker at the nose, and then you have Quinton Jefferson [at left end]. And then I took and moved Roman Bragliofrom the Will [linebacker] to the end because again I think this is something we’ve been talking about as a staff kind of since preseason started, and we just think now is the best time to move. Because that’s where we think he was going to end up, at end. We’ll make that move now, and again, maybe he’s a guy that can help us this year from a pass-rush standpoint when we get into certain packages.”

On moving A.J. Francis from nose to end:
“Oh yeah we moved him about a week ago, I think it was. We took him out there again, as we were evaluating, we thought our three best guys were Joe, A.J. and Darius. So they were both at nose so we moved A.J. out to the end because we thought he was a little bit more suited to be able to play end. So we did that.”

On when Andre Monroe was injured:
“It was about a week ago I think, or something. It’s crazy. We’re running the gassers that we always run, and he’s beating everybody, and running as fast that I’ve ever seen him run. He did one and then the next one he did, he goes and he plants and as soon as he starts back he just gets about to the opposite hash and his leg just gave out. His knee gave out. So he’s going to have surgery on Thursday.”

On naming Perry Hills as the starter:
“I met with all three guys this morning. Pretty much after the scrimmage and then practice yesterday, it’s clear that Perry is the number one guy, the starter. Caleb [Rowe] is number two and Devin [Burns] is number three. So I just wanted our team to really understand who they’re working with and get as many reps so they can all get comfortable, they have been comfortable. But just wanted to get that done today and like I said I had a chance to sit down with all of them this morning and talk to them and fill them in before we made any announcements. I just thought it was the right time and it clearly played out that way. Caleb knows that he’s one play away; Devin’s got to get prepared to play as well. But Perry has done a good job and we look forward to him leading our team starting now and when we get going on September 1.”

On why he named a starter 11 days in advance of the first game:
“Because I think it was clearly a situation where there’s been a decided guy that’s been ahead. So you get the guy that’s ahead and you go with that and you feel comfortable with it.”

On if running back Brandon Ross is nicked up:
“Yeah they’re nicked up a little bit but it shouldn’t be anything serious. Brandon should probably either be out there tomorrow or on Thursday. Then Albert, again just running I think he might’ve just tweaked his groin a little bit.”

On the punting competition:
“That’s still ongoing. I’m not sure when we’ll – that might go all the way to game time until we decide who the guys going to be. Let me say this, the competition is between Brad Craddock and Nate Renfro. [Nick] Ferrara is not going to be punting, he’s just going to focus on place-kicking, which is field goals and kickoffs. Those two guys are battling it out, and it’s a good competition. We’ll keep that going and like I said, if there’s something I really feel good about and I can say they’re that guy then we’ll name that when we get that figured out. So as soon as that decides itself out then we’ll decide, if it doesn’t it could be a game time decision.”

On if he’s elevated any walk-ons to scholarship:
“No not yet. We’re still in camp, we’re in camp until after tomorrow and if any of that would happen it would be sometime after that.”

On if he’s looking for any specific positions in the walk-on tryouts:
“Well we’re always looking for linemen, if we can find linemen. But really just anyone that we think can come out and aid us and help us. Wide receivers, defensive backs I think would be something we’re looking for but really any position. We always do that at that time of the year.”

On the command of Perry Hills:
“I think he’s done well. I’ve been very, very impressed with just how he’s handled himself. The poise and composure and command that he’s handling that first offense with, I mean here’s a guy that’s a freshman that’s telling those guys `Come on let’s go, get set, get down,’ and all those things. He’s been good at handling all the instillation that’s gone in. Like I said I’ve been very impressed with a kid that’s a true freshman to pick up all the things he’s picked up and then to go out and handle the huddle. He really hasn’t turned over the ball much, he’s accurate, I have not seen him get rattled. I think he’s one of those guys that just goes and prepares very well. He’s always sitting in that film room studying and trying to do exactly what [offensive coordinator] Mike [Locksley] wants him to do. So when you do that you give yourself the opportunity to be successful.”

On how ready freshman safety Sean Davis is:
“I think he’s done a good job. I think he’s picked things up. Of course there’s a lot more things he’s got to get better at and refine and all those things. But he’s a guy that goes hard, plays hard and the more reps he gets the better he’s going to be. But he’s the best guy and that’s who we have to go with and now what we have to do is get him ready.”